Submarine viewing apparatus.



PATBNTBD APR. 21, 1908.

M. VSAMSLIAI-IA.

SUBMARINE VIEWING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY-11.. 1907. Y.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

l f' l l l l l l f l l l l f l l l l l l l a l l n @Vi/#Manno NO. 835,087. I PATBNTBDAIR. 21, 1908.

` M. SAMAHA.

SUBMARINB VIEWING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 11. 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET z.

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MANSOUR SAMAHA, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

SUBMARINE VIEWING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 2i, 1908.

Application filed May 11, 1907. Serial No. 373,092.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MANsoUR SAMAHA, Ia citizen of the United States, residing at VVa'sliington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Submarine Viewing Apparatus, of which the following is a s eciiication.

The invention re ates to improvements in submarine viewing apparatus.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive subniarine viewing apparatus, designed to form a part of the equi )ment of submarine and various other kinds of vessels, and adapted to be effectively and advantageously employed in searching for torpedoes, mines, and the like, and in navigating a vessel in shallow or unknown waters, and in searching for sunken objects in salvage and other operations.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this character, adapted to afford the observer a plurality of submarine views at different predetermined depths or distances below the hull of a vessel, so that the apparatus will not only enable the bottom at different depths to be observed, but will indicate the depth of the water without adjustment of the ap aratus.

Another object of t e invention is to provide a submarine viewing apparatus, which will be located wholly within the lines of the hull, so as to offer no resistance to the passage of a vessel through the water, and also to prevent it from being injured through contact with floating, or other objects in the water and to avoidr agitating the water and thereby interfering with the view.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrilicing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a submarine viewing apparatus, constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view, illustrating the manner of mounting the pivoted telescope. Figs. 3

and 4 are detail sectional views, illustrating different forms of o tical tubes. Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudina sectional view of a submarine viewing apparatus, illustrating a modification of the invention designed particularly for use on submarine and other war vessels. Fig. 6 is a plan view, illustrating the manner of adjustably mounting the telescope and the search light Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view, taken substantially on the line azz-9:. of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view, showing the arrangement of the apparatus within the hull of a vessel.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

The form of submarine Viewing apparatus, illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, is designed for use on Steamers and various other vessels, both for searching for sunken objects in rivers and other comparatively shallow bodies of water, and also in navigating unknown and shallow waters, and it may be arranged in any convenient portion of the hull of a vessel. The submarine viewing apparatus may be installed either during the construction of a vessel, or after the completion of such construction in any convenient position. It is provided with a powerful search light 1, which may be of any preferred construction, and which pierces the hull 2 below the surface of the water, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The search light 1, which is water tight, terminates at the exterior of the hull and is arranged wholly within the lines of the vessel, and the apparatus presents no projecting parts, so that it will in no wise aect the speed of a vessel, or agitate the water, or become broken or otherwise injured by objects in the water.

The hull of the vessel is provided with a suitable aperture for the lower end of the casing of the search light, which is provided at its lower end with a suitable glass 3. The glass 3 may be colored, so that the rays of light from the search light will be colored and easily distinguishable from the sun light, which will not interfere with the operation of the apparatus in shallow water during the day. rlhe casing of the search light may be supported in a vertical position by a brace 4, or other suitable means. The brace 4 is composed of opposite sides and a connecting top portion. The top portion receives the search ight, and the lower terminals of the sides are bent outward, and are secured to the hull of the vessel. The search light is designed to ICC be equipped with a high candle arc light and a powerful reflector, but as the' particular construction of the search light does not constitute a portion of the present invention, a detail description and illustration thereof is deemed unnecessary. The hull of the vessel is also pierced for a group or series of optical tubes 5, arranged at an inclination so that the line of vision will intersect the rays of light of the search light at different distances from the hull 2, whereby the optical tubes will present to the observer fields of' 'vision or views at different depths. These inclined optical tubes, which may be arranged at any angle, will have their lines of vision intersecting the rays of light of the search light at predetermined depths, so that when the bottom is viewed through any one of the group of optical tubes, the depth of the water will be known. This will enable the bottom to be observed and the'depth of water to be ascertained without any adjustment of the apparatus. The powerful search light will enable the light to be reflected within the optical tubes from a considerable distance below the hull of the vessel, but in practice the iXed inclined optical tubes will be arrangedl so as to intersect the rays of light at intervals between the hull of the vessel and at distances of about twenty-live feet, which will be ample for all practical purposes, as the stationary inclined optical tubes are designed principally for searching comparatively shallow waters for missing objects, and also to facilitate the navigation of the unknown shallow waters and the like. Then it is desirable to make observations at greater depth, an adjustable telescope 6 will be employed.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, the axes of the stationary inclined optical tubes are indicated as intersecting the rays of the search light at intervals of lour feet, and each optical tube, which may be constructed of any suitable material, is provided at the lower end with a plain, clear glass '7, and the optical tube is air tight to reduce to a minimum all interferences with the light reflected in it. The optical tube is arovided, for convenience, with an angular y disposed upper portion 8, and it has a concave mirror 9 on which the reflected light is thrown by an angularly disposed or inclined mirror 10, located within the optical tube at the angle formed by the upper and lower portions thereof. The upper end of the optical tube is closed by a clear glass 11, and the concave mirror 9, which is supported by a suitable arm 12, is arranged eXteriorly of the optical tube. The iirst optical tube of the series or group, or the one nearest the search light, is indicated as intersecting the rays of light at a distance of eight feet below the hull 2, and the light relected in the first tube will be thrown on the concave receiving mirror 9, in which may be seen all objects in the illuminated field of the lirst optical tube, and when the vessel is in motion, the objects will appear on the concave mirror in the lorm of a moving 'panorama, or a continuous submarine view.

For convenience` of illustration, the group ot optical tubes are shown in a straight line, but they may be arranged in a curved or other series, as preferred, and the optical tubes may extend to any convenient portion of the ship, where it is desired to have such submarine observations taken, and il'V desired, a straight optical tube 13 may be einployed, as illustrated in Fig. 4. ln Fig. 3 is illustrated another form ol optical tube, which is provided at the upper end with a concave mirror 14. The optical tube 15 is provided at one. side with a sight aperture, which is in the -form of a tubular eye piece 16, having a plain glass through which the concave mirror is clearly visible. optical tubes with their concave receiving mirrors will present to the observer submarine views at dill'erent depths or distances from the point of observation.

rlhe telescope 6 ist provided at the opposite sides with suitable pivots or trnnnions 17,

which are mounted in suitable bearings 1S ot a rotary ring 19, adapted to permit the telescope to be turned, so as to swing across the rays ot the search light as well as toward and from the same. ln clear water with a powerful search light, submarine observations may be made at a considerable depth by means of the telescope, which is adapted to be arranged at ditl'erent angles to the search light, so that the line of vision will intersect the search light at dillerent distances from the hull or bottom oi' a vessel. The ring 1%) is mounted between upper and lower hori- Zontal flanges 20 ol a sleeve 21, having llared upper and lower portions and suitably mounted at an aperture 22 of the hull 2. rlhe ap erture is covered by a suitable glass 23, and a slide 24 is provided 'for covering the aperture in event of any damage to the glass, and also when the apparatus is not in use. Any suitable means may be employed for operating the slide or closure, and the glass may be of sulhcient strength, so that the slide or closure need be used only in event of accident. The llared upper and lower portions of the supporting sleeve allord the telescope a considerable range of vision in making suhmarine observations.

In Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive of the drawings is illustrated a submarine viewing apparatus, designed particularly tor use on war vessels, submarine boats and the like 'for locating torpedoes, mines, submarine boats and the like. This vform of apparatus comprises an oscillatory search light 25 and an oscillatory telescope 26, adapted to be arranged either paralle with or at an angle to the search light 25. The telescope and the search light are The group olt mounted in and su ported by a rotary ring 27, which enables t e search light and telescope to be arranged to swing either longitudinally or transversely of the vessel, or at any intermediate angle. The telescope is provided at opposite sides with pivots or trunnions 28, which are j ournaled in bearings of an elliptical support 29, and the latter is provided at its ends with bearings 3() for the reception of pivots or trunnions 31 and 32 of the ring 27 and the search light 25. The journal 31 is located at one side of the ring, which is provided at its o posite side with a journal 33, fitting in a caring 34 4of the search light 25. By this construction, the telescope is adapted to swing either longitudinally or transversely of the elliptical support, and the search light is adapted to swing transversely of the saidelliptical support. The rotary bearing ring 27 1s mounted between upper and lower horizontal flanges 35 and 36, extending inwardly from a sleeve 37, which is provided with upper and lower flared or tapered portions to afford a relatively lar e amount of adjustment of the telescope an the search li ht. This will enable observations to be ma e at considerable distances in any direction. The upper flange 35 is in the form of a detachable ring, and the sleeve 37 is mounted atan a erture 38, which is covered by a plate 39 o glass, a slidable closure 40 being provided for closing the aperture 38 in event of injury to the glass.

By the aid of a powerful search Iight and lav strong telescope, objects may be seen through clear water for a considerable distance, and the agitation of the illuminated water will operate to render objects more distinct.

Submarine and other vessels may be provided at different points with apertures, and the submarine viewing a paratus may be transferred from one set o apertures to another, so that a single apparatus may be used either fore or aft, or at either side of a vessel.

' Also the inclined optical tubes 5 may be pivotally mounted, so as to be arranged at dif# ferent angles or inclinations. By ivotally mounting the optical tube 5, it wil be enabled to take the place of two or three fixed tubes.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a hull, of a submarine viewing apparatus comprising a single search light, and a plurality of fixed optical tubes arran ed at different distances from the axis of t e search light, each having its axis arranged to intercept the axis of the search light at a predetermined distance from the hull.

2. The combination with a hull, of a submarine viewing apparatus comprising a single search light, and a plurality of optical tubes arran ed at different distances from the axis of t e search light, each having its axis arranged to intersect the axis of the search light at a predetermined distance from the hull and provided at the observation end with a receiving mirror.

3. The combination with a hull, of a submarine viewing apparatus including a search light, and a pivotally mounted optical tube having its axis intersecting the axis of the search light and adapted to swing on its pivot to change the angle or inclination so as to intersect the axis of the search light at different distances below the hull.

4. In a submarine viewing apparatus, the combination of a hull provided with apertures located below the surface of the water, a single search light mounted within the hull at one of the apertures, and a plurality of optical tubes mounted within the hull at the other apertures and located at different distances from the search light and each being arranged at an angle to the search light with its axis intersecting the axis of the search light at a predetermined distance from the hull, said optical tubes being provided with receiving mirrors arranged in a series.

5. In a submarine viewing apparatus, the combination of a hull provided with apertures located below the surface of the water, a single search light mounted within the hull at one of the apertures, and a plurality of optical tubes mounted within the hull at the other apertures and located at different distances from the axis of the search light and each being arranged at an angle to the search light with its axis intersecting the axis of the search light at a predetermined distance from the hull, said' optical tubes being provided with concave receiving mirrors arranged in a substantially horizontal series.

6. In a submarine viewing apparatus, the combination with a hull provided below the surface of the water with apertures, of a single search light mounted within the hull at one of the apertures, and aY plurality of xed optical/tubes mounted within the hull at the other apertures and each arranged at an angle to the search light with its axis intersectin the axis of the search light at a predetermined distance from the hull and provided with angularly disposed portions, said optical tubes being also provided with concave receiving mirrors `and having inclined mirrors located at the angles of the tubes.

7. The combination with a hull, of a submarine viewing apparatus including a search light located within the hull, and a telescope pivotally mounted within the hull and having a swinging movement independent of the search light so as to arrange its axis to intersect the axis of the search light at different distances below the hull.

8,. In a submarine viewing apparatus, the combination with a hull having apertures, of

a fixed search light mounted at one of the apertures, and an optical tube located at the other aperture and mounted for pivotal and rotary movements.

9. In a submarine viewing apparatus, the combination with a hull having apertures, of a search light located at one of the apertures, a telescope located at the other aperture, a rotary supporting ring mounted at the latter aperture, and means for pivotally mounting the telescope on the supporting ring.

l0. In a submarine viewing apparatus, the combination with a hull having apertures, of a search light located at one of the apertures, a sleeve mounted at the other aperture and provided with inner and outer i'lared portions, and an oscillatory telescope pivotally mounted between the flared portions of the sleeve.

1l. In a submarine viewing apparatus, the combination with a hull having apertures, of a search light located at one of the apertures, a sleeve mounted at the other aperture and provided with inner and outer flared portions, a rotary ring mounted between the ilared portions of the sleeve, and a telescope pivotally connected with the rotary ring.

l2. In a submarine viewing apparatus, the combination with a hull having a sight aperture located below the surface, of a colored search light mounted within the hull at the said aperture, and an optical tube located within the hull and arranged at an angle to the search light with its axis intersecting the axis of the search light at a distance from the hull, said optical tube being pivotally mounted and arranged to swing independently of the search light to cause its axis to intersect the axis of the search light at dill'erent distances from the hull.

13. The combination with a hull, of a submarine viewing apparatus including a search light, and a telescope located within the hull in cooperative operation, one of them being mounted for pivotal movement independent of the other so as to cause their axes to intersect at different distances beyond the hull.

14. The combination with a hull, of' a submarine viewing apparatus including a search light located within the hull, and a telescope f mounted within the hull for pivotal and rotary movements and arranged in coperative relation with the telescope and adapted to swing on its pivot to cause its axis to intersect the axis ofthe search light at dillerent distances beyond the hull.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speciiication in the presence olE two subscribing witnesses.

7i tnesses:

JOHN H. SIGGERS, II. T. RILEY. 

